Betsy Snow White Bibliophile

Tag: 2021

  • 8 Days of Blogging

    Seth and I went for a walk in Green Lawn Cemetery the other day because it was a sunny, cold day and the snow looked so pretty. We parked in an area of the Cemetery we hadn’t explored yet and we ended up parking right beside the Jewish section. I am a big old witch, and my husband is agnostic, so neither of us knows much about Judaism or the customs there in. I was delighted to see small stones and rocks sitting atop all of the headstones in this section and after a quick google we found out that they are visitation stones. When saying Kaddish or visiting a grave the stone is left to show that the person is remembered. I love this custom so much!! I am so happy to know this now.

    We also just happened upon the grave for Marvin Fishman aka. Flippo the King of Clowns, who had a morning children’s show that ran in Columbus beginning in 1953 and running through 1983. He passed away in 2006 after a career entertaining Columbus and surrounds. Apparently I learned through his obituary that he coined “Nerk” for my hometown of Newark. Small world.

    Jewish cemetery, burial and Mourning Customs. (2003). Retrieved February 23, 2021, from https://www.jcam.org/Pages/Foundation/Education/articles/stones-left-on-monuments.php#:~:text=The%20Origins%20of%20Leaving%20A%20Visitation%20Stone&text=common%20Jewish%20cemetery%20customs%20is,of%20the%20act%20of%20remembrance.

  • 9 Days of Blogging

    9 Days of Blogging

    On Friday I went with my mom and sister to a socially distanced, masked, cash tip free drag show at District West. It was Stadium Virginium X featuring the amazing Virginia West, drag mom to Nina West from RPDR fame. They had an amazing specialty cocktail menu for the occasion and along with the Headliner which is my favorite of theirs generally, I tried a Hollywood Walk of Shame and a Ziggy Starfruit as well as a shot called Pop my Cherry.

    Stadium Virginium is a rock show for the most part and this one was not exception. This one featured everything from The Runaways to Hootie and the Blowfish to Gwen Stefani to Meatloaf. I sang so hard I barely had a voice yesterday. It was an amazing show with truly amazing performances. I am always so impressed with the quality of a West Family show.

    If you are ever in Columbus, or just feel up to a virtual show check out District West on Facebook. You can stream most of the shows as well. Worth every penny. Always!

  • 10 Days of Blogging

    10 Days of Blogging

    If you could live inside a book, which book would you pick? Which world would you pick? I have a couple that would be on my shortlist of worlds/ books to live in.

    1 The Starless Sea – How lovely to live in a subterranean library under the earth. Surrounded by books and cats and readers and words…lovely! The bibliophile in me says yes please.

    2 The Night Circus – Another Morgenstern, but as a child I secretly (or not so secretly) wanted to run away and join the circus, and this circus with its black and white color scheme and super magical origin just pulls my soul right in. I would absolutely accept just being a girl who runs a concession stand.

    3 Discworld – Specifically, I would want to be one of the witches even though it looks like a lot of hard work. I just love the world that Terry Pratchett created and I would love to be a part of it. I like to think Terry lives there too, so maybe I could finally meet him.

    4 Newford – This is the setting for many of the books by Charles De Lint where fairies, old gods and the modern world meet. Would love to have tea with Jilly and meet the Crow Girls. Please?

    5 The Hollows Cincinnati/ Chicago in Dresden Files – I am putting these together, because they feel like very similar worlds. This is another set of pretty modern but add magic, urban fantasy wonderland and I would love to live in either one.

    When I was younger I might have added Narnia to this list, but it doesn’t seem as great for an adult. Wonderland also might have made the list, but doesn’t appeal as much to me any more. There are other worlds that have lost some shine for me over the years. MiddleEarth I would take only if I got to live in Hobbiton.

    I have undoubtedly forgotten some, but this is a good beginning list. How about you? Thoughts?

  • 11 Days of Blogging

    11 Days of Blogging

    What’s your sign?

    I have mentioned before that I am a pisces, with an aquarius rising and a cancer moon, or what I like to call “I’m an emotional wreck bundle”. I am a collector of Pisces memes, and generally I can find a bit of myself in them, but it is possible I could find bits of myself in any sign. I am emotional, as a pisces is supposed to be emotional. I am prone to escapism, as a pisces is supposed to be. I am a dreamer, as a pisces is supposed to be. I am a bit odd, which could be any of these but it probably the aquarius placement that brings it through. *Shrug*

    I just know I enjoy reading about these little insights into who I am that are supposedly written in the stars. I enjoy knowing that some of the scents for pisces are sandalwood and lemon, which are two of my favorite smells. I have no problem being a bit of a stereotype of my horoscope. These are some of my favorite horoscope memes, and such from my phone.

    Do you feel like your sign is accurate? Why or why not?

  • 12 Days of Blogging

    12 Days of Blogging

    As the pandemic was ramping up last June I saw an announcement from Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess, saying that members of her book club would be receiving an autographed copy of her new book, Broken, as one of their books. I immediately signed up for The Fantastic Strangelings Book Club. I have not regretted it. I admittedly have not read every single book I have been sent, yet, but the books are varied and interesting. I have, so far, received 8 books including the latest which is The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec a book I am planning to jump into feet first tonight when I get off work (I am on break).

    I am a huge fan of Jenny’s writing and her openness about her struggles with mental illness, imposter syndrome, and just being a bit odd. And it excites me to think that I am somehow connected to her, even if it is just by paying to be part of her book club. I also love getting books in the mail every month. As an admitted book hoarder the only thing better than books is more books.

    Jenny also announced that she will be doing a “book tour” in April where she will do live talks online with other authors including Felicia Day, Neil Gaiman and Judy Blume. I am probably going to have to invest in the Neil Gaiman, but I have a minute to decide. If you haven’t already I highly recommend Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson; it is funny, irreverent, honest and wonderful.

  • 13 Days of Blogging

    13 Days of Blogging

    Things I need to get done that I am procrastinating: 1. Finishing putting Christmas stuff away 2. Make several videos for various social media platforms 3. Put on Garb and make more videos for social media 4. Put together and mail things to the wenches 5. Update my profiles and such on social media with podcast info 6. Get ready for my next class 7. Read the book for the module I would like to run for D&D 8. Take up the old crappy carpet in the front rooms of the house

  • 14 Days of Blogging

    14 Days of Blogging

    It’s Here!! The podcast I guested on is available to listen to here. It was a super fun and generally a great conversation. So check it out if you want.

    We are planning another live event for the podcast I will be cohosting Girls, Ghosts, Ghouls. We are going to do a live reading of Hop-Frog by Edgar Allan Poe. This is because we are covering the 1964 Roger Corman film The Masque of The Red Death and Corman mixed two Poe short stories to make this film, the titular story and Hop-Frog. Makes sense, right?

    I have such a love affair with Poe, even though I am aware that as a person he was problematic. His aesthetic is so my style. The Raven was one of the first poems I ever memorized that wasn’t my own. I have multiple pieces of Poe merchandise, like an action figure and a Poe-ka Dot bag from the company Out of Print. I have multiple copies of the complete works from several different eras. The paper that would lead to my change to an English major was on The Fall of the House of Usher. I am a fan of Poe’s work and I am well aware that his history is problematic at best. Shrug. I am not attempting to justify him as a person, but as a writer he was very influential to me.

    So…If you are interested in listening to me read some Poe along with my fellow Girls, Ghosts, Ghouls ladies you can find the event here.

  • 15 Days of Blogging

    #ValentinesDayChallenge

    How’d you guys meet: I worked with his Brother, Chris, at Chase and he introduced us.
    First Date: Olive Garden followed by a movie.
    How long have you been together: 14 years in May
    Married: For 9 years in October.
    Age difference: I am 3 years and a couple days older
    Who was interested first: I think it was pretty mutual. I asked him out first, if that counts.
    Who is taller: Seth
    Who said I love you first: I think probably Seth because I was afraid to rush things.
    Most impatient: Depends on the situation.
    Most sensitive: Me. I cry at commercials, often. Empathy can suck.
    Loudest: Usually me, but he has his moments.
    Most stubborn: Seth.
    Falls asleep first: Seth
    Cooks better: Seth does most of the cooking. I can cook he just enjoys it more.
    Better morning person: Me
    Better driver: Me
    Most competitive: Seth
    Funniest: Seth, but I have my moments.
    Where do you eat out most as a couple: Somewhere Mexican for me.
    Who is more social: Me.
    Who is the neat freak: Neither of us is a neat freak.
    Where was your first kiss: Chris and Niki’s house as he was leaving after a gaming session.
    Who initiated your first kiss: Seth
    How long did it take to get serious: Not long at all. We just clicked. We moved in together within a year.
    Plans date night: Food, movie, maybe a play.
    Who picks where you go to dinner: We both do at different times.
    Who is the first one to admit when they’re wrong: Me.
    Who wears the pants in the relationship: Probably me, but mostly we work as a team.
    Who has more tattoos: Me. Seth doesn’t have any.
    Who sings better: Me.
    Hogs the remote: Seth, but I have abdicated.
    Spends the most: Me, by far.
    Did you go to the same school: No.
    Where is the furthest you two have traveled: Las Vegas
    Who drives when you are together: Usually Me.

    This was kind of fun. I hope you enjoy the insight into my relationship.

  • 16 Days of Blogging

    Today we headed to Polaris Fashion Place, which is a giant mall in Columbus, to stalk our favorite soap makers and buy more of their amazing soaps. We have been almost exclusively using Elder Forest Soaps for at least 5 years but more than likely more than that. We met them at the Ashville Viking Festival and started by buying a couple of bars just to try them. Now we buy 6-9 at a time. We love their products so much and I highly recommend them.

    We ended up with Sandalwood Rose, Rosemary, Coconut Lemongrass, Woodland, Patchouli Spice and their seasonal Charcoal Rose in soaps. I also picked up some of their pain balm which is one of the best things for muscle pain I have ever found. Their natural deodorant spray which works well and leaves you smelling wonderful. And I tried their new lotion in Cashmere and Vanilla Oak and I smell so amazing right now. Katie the owner also threw in a lip balm for me and it is also great. If you are looking for a great natural soap company give them a look.

  • 17 Days of Blogging

    17 Days of Blogging

    Well, I have officially casted my first pod ever, lol. I recorded last night with my friend Jenny and her co-host Jean Paul for their podcast WTF Did I Just Watch? It was an absolute blast. We were discussing 1999s Simply Irresistible starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Sean Patrick Flannery. We laughed a lot and had a fun discussion of this crazy film. I will post a link to the podcast once it is available or you can subscribe on podbean here. I was super nervous going into it, but once we got started I was just having fun. They also record video so you can subscribe to watch/listen here.

    Tonight, meaning the 13th, myself and the other two hosts from our new podcast Girls, Ghosts, Ghouls will be doing a live AMA/QA on Facebook to give people a chance to get to know us before our first official episode which will come out in March. If you have nothing going on 6-9pm EST tonight stop by and say hi. 🙂 I am really excited to get into this and to begin digging in to these classic horror movies that I used to watch late nights on AMC and TCM.